Hong Kong – SEE inspects selected premises to understand preparatory work under MSW Charging Demonstration Scheme (with photos)
SEE inspects selected premises to understand preparatory work under MSW Charging Demonstration Scheme (with photos)
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The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (March 27) inspected various premises under the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Charging Demonstration Scheme to understand the premises’ preparatory work.
Accompanied by the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, and the Government Property Administrator, Mr Eugene Fung, Mr Tse inspected the designated refuse collection point and recycling area on one floor of the South Wing of the West Kowloon Government Offices, as well as the central refuse collection point in the basement. The officials were briefed by the relevant staff on the progress of the preparatory work for the Demonstration Scheme, including co-ordination with other departments in the building and the publicity work.
Mr Tse also visited the Café de Coral fast-food restaurant in Admiralty Centre, Admiralty, to inspect the process of handling waste in the kitchen, and listened to the views of the person-in-charge of the restaurant on MSW charging and problems that may arise during the implementation, as well as on practical arrangements and requirements of the operation. Mr Tse thanked the Café de Coral Group for its support to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD)’s implementation of the Demonstration Scheme.
“The premises under the Demonstration Scheme we visited today advised that they are fully prepared for the implementation. I expressed my heartful gratitude to the participating government departments, institutions and persons, particularly the participating premises for their support and collaboration. We believe that the experience and outcome of the Demonstration Scheme will assist the Government in better grasping the overall situation,” said Mr Tse.
Moreover, Dr Chui, together with EPD officers, today also paid a visit to Genius Court located in Kowloon City to observe on-site the preparatory work of this single-block residential building, particularly on how the property management company and the cleaning frontline staff are complementing the trial. He also chatted with residents who collected designated bags (DBs) for MSW charging at the management office to learn about the recycling facilities in the vicinity of the building. Dr Chui applauded them and thanked them for their participation in the Demonstration Scheme to join hands with the Government in taking this critical step forward.
The EPD started the preparatory work for the Demonstration Scheme in January 2024, including liaising with relevant bureaux and departments to identify suitable premises; discussing with the management of the selected premises; co-ordinating; as well as developing the framework and detailed workflow. The first group of premises covered under the Demonstration Scheme includes public and private residential buildings, “three-nil” buildings, shopping malls, restaurants and residential care homes. Taking into account the situation of each selected premise, the EPD has provided relevant Best Practice Guides and training materials on implementing MSW charging for reference, and briefed the property management practitioners or relevant representatives on their responsibilities.
The EPD officers had earlier visited the relevant premises to conduct on-site assessments to refine the scheme arrangements and assist responsible persons in getting prepared for the implementation of the Demonstration Scheme. The EPD has also prepared publicity materials such as posters, slogans and promotional videos for the selected premises to display in public areas and on every floor for notifying the residents or occupants about the relevant arrangements before the commencement of the scheme. EPD officers will then visit the residents or occupants of the selected premises to learn about their opinions, experiences and problems encountered.
The participating premises will start using DBs upon the commencement of the Demonstration Scheme on April 1. Therefore, it is expected that starting from April 2 most of the premises will collect waste disposed by using DBs. In addition to the arrangement on the technical aspect of the trial, the Government will also collect views and experiences on the trial from different stakeholders through opinion surveys, with a view to better grasping the overall situation.
Hong Kong Customs inspects Lunar New Year Fairs
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The Divisional Commander (Intellectual Property General Investigation) of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau of Customs, Mr Nick Tse, said today that Customs will conduct inspections in various districts, including all 15 Lunar New Year Fairs, and take stringent enforcement actions against infringing activities to protect consumer interests.
Last November and December, Customs distributed leaflets to successful bidders for Lunar New Year Fair stalls reminding them to be cautious about the authenticity and origin of their purchased goods. They were also reminded to verify with the corresponding agents or representatives of trademark and copyright owners if in doubt.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.
MTRC Chairman inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College (with photos)
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SEE inspects energy facilities in Shenzhen (with photos)
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SEE inspects FEHD’s anti-mosquito measures (with photos)
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Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs inspects Lunar New Year Fairs
Hong Kong Customs today (February 4) distributed pamphlets to stall operators at various Lunar New Year Fairs to remind them not to sell infringing goods.
Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong – MTRC Chairman inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College (with photos)
The Non-executive Chairman of MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC), Dr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, inspected the passing-out parade for 27 probationary inspectors and 127 recruit police constables at the Hong Kong Police College today (February 3).
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Auyeung said that the rule of law and public safety are the cornerstone of the city’s long-term development. Praising the Force as an excellent team, who spare no effort in safeguarding national security, maintaining social order, as well as protecting the public, he pointed out that their professional attitude has made Hong Kong one of the safest and most stable cities in the world.
He said that the MTRC has always been in close collaboration with the Force in different areas, and appreciated for their support in ensuring the public safety of the railway network, and maintaining the order of the stations, thus facilitating the smooth running of the overall operation which benefits the railway passengers.
Dr Auyeung encouraged the graduates that in the face of various challenges and difficulties, they should uphold the Force’s spirit of “Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty” regardless of the posts which they would attach to, and support and unite each other. Noting the rising public expectations for quality public services and the work of the Force is closely connected with people’s daily life, he believed that all graduates will serve the society with a professional attitude and care, and continue to communicate with the public to gain their support.
Lastly, he hoped that in times of rapid changes, graduates should equip and improve themselves to achieve excellence at all times, keep pace with the times, and prepare themselves with capabilities and professional knowledge to face up to various challenges in the future.Hong Kong – SEE inspects energy facilities in Shenzhen (with photos)
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, visited the China General Nuclear Power Corporation Limited (CGNPC) and the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Site in Shenzhen today (March 8).
Mr Tse first visited the Shenzhen CGNPC Building to learn about the history and development of the company. He also met and exchanged views with representatives of the CGNPC. Mr Tse proceeded to the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Site in the afternoon. He visited the main control room of Ling Ao Nuclear Power Station Phase II and was briefed by the staff on the operation of the nuclear power station.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and reduce the total carbon emissions from the 2005 level by half before 2035. The Government has devised four major decarbonisation strategies, namely “net-zero electricity generation”, “energy saving and green buildings”, “green transport” and “waste reduction” in Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 promulgated in 2021. To gradually increase the use of zero-carbon energy for electricity generation, the Government will explore more zero-carbon energy supplies at a reasonable price in surrounding areas to promote low-carbon energy transformation in Hong Kong.
Mr Tse returned to Hong Kong in the evening.Hong Kong – SEE inspects FEHD’s anti-mosquito measures (with photos)
The Government is very concerned about a number of imported malaria cases recently recorded in Hong Kong. The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (August 7) inspected the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)’s anti-mosquito measures at the hillside near Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwai Chung. He appeals to members of the public to work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures at their homes and surroundings, thereby keeping hazards at bay.
“Anopheline mosquito transmitting Malaria is not commonly found in Hong Kong and the risk of local transmission of malaria is extremely low. Notwithstanding this, malaria is a serious infectious disease which can be fatal if it is not treated early. Therefore, the public must not allow the relatively low risk to lower our guards. The FEHD will step up anti-mosquito work, while co-operation and support from members of the public are very important. Effective mosquito control requires the concerted efforts of all parties in society and members of the public should maintain good personal hygiene and prevent mosquito breeding in their daily lives. I appeal to all sectors of the community to take anti-mosquito measures together,” Mr Tse said.
Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by an infected female Anopheline mosquito (malaria vector). Prevention and control of malaria vector in Hong Kong has been conducted for over 60 years. All along, the FEHD has been undergoing relevant vector prevention and control work, and classifying densely-populated places as vector control area. According to the surveillance data, malaria vector is uncommon locally. However, in view of the recent imported cases from overseas, the FEHD has stepped up the vector prevention and control work in high-risk places, including conducting vector investigation, strengthening vector prevention and control work in rivers and streams in areas within a two-kilometre radius from the residence of the patients and the places they visited (e.g. airport; relevant quarantine hotels, quarantine centre, hospitals; places passed through on the way and so on), as well as applying larvicide at appropriate locations to make it not possible for Anopheline to breed and survive.
Taking into consideration the ecology and habitat of Anopheline mosquitoes (unpolluted hilly streams providing breeding environment for Anopheline mosquitoes), staff of FEHD’s District Environmental Hygiene Offices are conducting weekly inspection of about 600 rivers or streams under control at malaria vector control zone and carrying out river clearing work, including removing rocks which obstructs smooth flow, pruning overgrown branches protruding into the rivers, clearing up floating refuse, and applying larvicide such as temephos and Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis at appropriate locations. Moreover, staff of Pest Control Advisory Section of the FEHD will conduct investigation of larvae of mosquitoes in the rivers outside vector control zones and collect adult mosquitoes nearby to survey the existence of vector Anopheline mosquitoes. Except the vector Anopheline mosquitoes identified in remote areas that were sparsely populated in 2006 and 2021 (Tai Lam Chung Reservoir in 2021), the vector Anopheline mosquitoes have not been found elsewhere in Hong Kong. From 1999 till now, the Centre for Health Protection has not recorded any locally transmitted case.
Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease transmitted by an infected female Anopheline mosquito. When the mosquito bites a malaria patient, the mosquito will become infected and may pass on the disease when it bites another person. Malaria is not directly transmitted from person to person. However, malaria can be transmitted through contaminated blood or blood product transfusion, organ transplant, or shared needles or syringes. Malaria may also be transmitted from a mother to her foetus/newborn baby before or during delivery.
In view of the ecology and habitat of the vector as well as the urbanisation of our city, the environment that allows the breeding of the local malaria vector mosquitoes has been on the decrease, and only a very small number of malaria vector mosquitoes was recorded in remote places that were sparsely populated during mosquito surveillance. The risk of local transmission of malaria is extremely low. However, the hot and rainy summers of Hong Kong are conducive to the rapid reproduction of mosquitoes. Member of the public should stay vigilant and take anti-mosquito measures expeditiously.
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